Lubricator.



G. R. KENNEDY.

LUBRIUATOR.

APPLIGATION FILED APR, 1s, 1911.

1,071,?54. f Patented Sept. 2, 1913.

2 SHEETS-SHEET FIGA. f /30 9 WITNESS/:1S

MKM/M7 "QM #wwf G. R. KENNEDY,

LUBRICATOR.

APPLICATION FILED APR.18, 1911y 1,071,754. Patented Sept.2,1913.

2 SHEETS--SHBET 2.

Flay.

Vy Plas.

22127/55555" IN1/EN TOR.

, .www b# d aj/M @Mi/f c/dzw@ UNITED STATES PA TENT OFFICE.

GEOME RUSSELL KENNEDY, 0F PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOII. OF ONE- HALF TO GRANT MCCABGO, 0F PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA.

LUBBICATOB..

T 0 all whom it may concern Be it known that I, Gfx-:onori RUSSELL KEN- Niinv, a resident of Pittsburgh, in the'coiinty of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvenient in Lubrieators, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to liibricators and more particularly to vfeed cups for lubricants in which pressure is'employed to cause the flow or movement of the lubricant out of the cup.

The resent invention an improvement upon t e lubricator shown.' described and claimed in my Patent No. 000,720 granted December 15, 1008.

The ob'ect of the present improvement is to-simpliiy the construction of the liibrieator covered by my former patent, tn render the same cheaper to manufacture, and generally to improve the construction and operationk thereof. f

The invention comprises the construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view through one forni of the improved lubricator; Fig. 2 is a detail view of the piston or plunger and the eseapement mechanism showing the escapenient mechanism locked; Fig. 3 is a similar view showing the escapemeut mechanism released; Fig. 4 is a. detail sectional view showing the nut in the head or cap of the cup; Fig. 5 is a plan view of the same; Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view through a modified forni o the liibricator; Fig. 7 is a detail view of a' follower member; Fig. 8 is a detail view of the spring shown in Fig. 6; Fig. 0 is a det-ail view of one of the springs shown in Fig. 1, and Fig. 10 is a sectional view of a modied form of the invention in which the piston has been raised p to its upper position.

The cup 1 is preferably cylindrical as is customary and is provided with a removable lower head 2 threaded onto the body as shown in Fig. 1. If desired the head or cap 3 of the cup may also be detachably attached to the body as described in my former patent above identified. The cup may be filled with lubricant either by removing the lower head 2, or in any other suitable way, dependin upon the character of the lubricant, as ully described in my prior Specification of Letters Patent.

Application Med April 18, 1911.

Patented Sept. 2,1913. 4aerial No. 621,898.

patent. The lower head 2 of the cup is provided with a threaded discharge nozzle 4 as is customary, for attachment to the bearing or part te be lubricated. The discharge opening 5 through this nozzle is made large enough for the maximum discharge of lubricant desired, and is controlled by suitable means for restricting the discharge, the controlling means shown being a threaded plug G arranged transversely of the discharge opening and providedwith a transverse port 7 By rotating this plug the size of the discharge opening can be reduced to any desired extent, as will be readily understood. Formed in, or suitably secured non-rotatably to the body or cap 3 of the cup is a nut 8, provided with a thread or threads 9 of uick pitch, there preferably heilig a. pair o such threads. Extending through the nut is the threaded rod or shaft 10 which is provided with spiral grooves 11 of quick pitch coperating with the threads 9 in the'niit 8. The threads on the rod or shaft and in the nut, are of such quick pitch that when force is ap lied to the shaft in the direction of its ength said shaft is causedfto rotate in the nut. Preferably the threads are double as shown, in order to support the rod or shaft 10 at diametrically opposite sides` and thereby keep the same more accurately in vertical position. lVithin the cup is a piston or plunger 12, shown provided with a cup leather, although if desired it may be of Solid construction. This piston or plunger has a sliding fit in the cup and is adapted to be shifted lengthwise therein by suitable controlled means as hereinafter described. As sh'wn it is rotatably and slidably mounted on a central stud or rod 14: formed on or secured to the lower end of the threaded rod or shaft 10, the specific construction shown havi U the stud 14 projecting into an axial hoe in the threaded rod or shaft 10 and secured therein by cross pin 15. At its lower end the stud 14 is provided with a washer 16 and cross pin 17 to limit the longitudinal movement of the piston or plunger thereon and revent disengagement lengthwise of t ese parts, and also to disengage the ratchet when raising the plunger for filling. The piston or plunger is controlled by substantiall)7 the same means as in my patent above identified, that is to say by means of the shifting or feeding spring 20 and the pres- 40 wheel 24 which 1s s sure spring 21. Both of these springs are of spiral conical formation. The spring 20 serves .to shift or feed downwardly the threaded rod or shaft 10, and to maintain substantiall constant the tension of the spring 21 w ich serves as the effective means for maintainin pressure on the lubricant in the cu and w ich by reason of the feeding or shi ting spring 2,0 and escapement met-han) nism hereinafter described exerts an aproximately uniform ressure upon the ubricant irrespective ofp whether the cup is filled or .nearly empty. As shown, the spring 20 is interposed between the` cap 3 of the cup and the follower member or washer 23 which loosely surrounds the lower end 'of the threaded rod or shaft 10; while the s ring 21 is interposed between 4this same follower or washer 23 and the piston or gd plunger 12, as shown.

Interposed between the piston or plunger,y

12 and the threaded rod or shaft 1() is suitable escapement mechanism to control the Shifting or feeding action of spring 20. g5 This escapement mechanism comprises a crown piece or ratchet member 24 which is nonqotatably and lengthwise immovabl secured to the threaded rod or shaft 10 suoli 'asby'menns of the cross pin 15, and which goriskrovided with an annular series of A, et teeth 25, which are engaged by a pawl member or tooth 26 formed on or suitably secured to the piston or plunger 12. .,Interposed between the crown wheel 24 and y 35 the'follower or washer 23 is a suitable ball bearing 27. The shifting spring 2O holds the `follower or washer 23 constantly pressed against the ball bearing 27 and as the latter is supported by the escapement lecured to the threaded rod or shaft 10, it is apparent lthat the shifting pring exerts endwise force on the threa ed rod or shaft 10, so that it will cause endwise movement and resultant rotavtion of the threaded shaft or rod 10, whenv. ever the escapement mechanism is released. This is effected as follows: When the piston vor plunger 12 is exerting pressure upon the lubricantin the cup the escapement members are held interloceked, or in the position shown in Figs. l and 2. The pressure of the springs A1n one direction and of the. lubricant in the opposite direction exerts sufiicient force on the piston or plunger to prevent its rotation under the pro elling action of the springs. .Consequent y the ratchet tooth 26 is relatively stationary, that is nonrotatable and serves to lock the ratchet wheel 24 against rotation. As a B consequence the threaded rod or shaft 10 cannot rotate in the nut 8 and is for the time being endwise immovable. As the vlubricant slowl Hows out of the cup the `spring 21 gra ually expands, forcing the 36 piston or plunger 12 downwardly as fast as permitted by the escape of the lubricant, until the ratchet tooth 26 is drawn out of engagement with the escapement wheel 24, or to the position shown in Fig. 3. The threaded rod or, shaft 10 is now free to rotate, and does so by reason of the force exerted endwise thereon by the shifting spring 20, thereby shifting the rod 10 downwardly until the escapement 25 again cngages the tooth 26. This has the effect of again compressing the spring 21, and the parts again remain in this position with the piston being gradually forced dowmvardly by sprin 21 as fast as allowed by the escape vof the lu ricant, until the escapement mechanism is again released. The result is that the ybearing or abutment for the pressure spring 21, represented by the washer 23, is intermittently shifted downwardly, so as to vmaintain the spring 21 under substantially constant tension and irrespective of Whether the cup is full or nearly empty, and insurin r a constant feed of the lubricant from the cup.I Obviously thespring 20 must be stronger than the spring 21.

The piston or lunger 12 can be raised, to fill the cup or vor other purposes, in two ways. As shown in Fig. 1 the threaded rod or shaft 10 has secured to its upper end a suitable handle 28 which can be grasped and by means of which said threaded rod or shaft can be turned in the pro er direction,- whereby the interengaging threads 9-11 cause said threaded rod to move endwise and lift the lunger. The threaded rod or shaft also provided with another set of threads 30 of slow pitch and which are engaged by a nut 31 of similar pitch. This nut during the normal operation of the feed cup lies underneath the handle 32 near the upper end of the threaded rod, so that it does not interfere with the downward shiftin of said threaded rod as above described. Wien the plunger is raised by rotating the screw 10 as above described, the nut 3]. can be run down until it presses against the top of the cup body and will then prevent downward movement of the threaded rod or shaft 10 until the cup is filled. As soon as the cup is filled this screw is again run up until it lies below the handle 28, so that it will not interfere with the downward movement of the screw as heretofore described. The nut 31 can also be used for lifting the threaded rod or shaft 10, and this is the intention in the modification shown in Fig. 6, in which the threaded rod at its up er end is merely provided with a head or s ight enlargement 32a. To lift the plunger the nut 31 while in contact with the top of thecup,is turned in the proper direction, and by reason of its engagement 'with the slow pitch threads on said threaded rod or shaft, the batter is Trad-v ually lifted, also turning as it is being lifted, on account of the quick pitch threads 9-11.

.'The turning o f the nut is' continued until-,the

-of the cupz 'Y ward shifting piston or plunger is lifted to the proper extent, and said nutV lthen :holds said piston or plunger-elevatedfxvhile .filling the cup. As soon as the cup istilled thenutyis run to the upper end lof Ithe .threaded rod as above described.. If it is desired to stop the lubrication it is 'merely necessary vto run the nut 31 down until it contacts with thetop. or cd'p 'If the piston, as .will be readly understood. i "In Figfl() I have:illustrated a construction' infwhich the "slowl pitch vthreads 3Q, shownin l1', hare been. omitted. In this forni ofthe 4'iiiyention' .the rod orshaft 10 'sitiooth'exterior surface exceptfor the 1 grooves 11,'1of

`ings ded 'I ilt 'by applying'the..

' otioifybeingjgiyen it-.the i oride heqgrpolvesl.- orteet'h 9'." ,When the a quick-.hdf'conyeniu llibricat/(njand; y nutBlaiid screW.-threads'30.ofFig. l. At

apply'the'annularfgxjoove 30 to the: other forms of my -luhriator shown inthe draw#- to'soufseit," AFor example,v

form shown shown ma'yibej v hand pull, as inFig. 10,'and'lield in position 1 l,11, thed piston .there `byquarter. rotation ofthe shaft or it may he slowly. raised` by .operation of the nut 31 in the ordinary iii'a'nneizA -v y f i.

TheV springsv 240 and 2l may desired be formed asA a single continuous hour-'glass spring, andliSsoShOWn in F igs. Q and 8, where the 'twoj parts. of the spring'are marked respectively20and 21H. With-this.

modification thewasher-orfollower 23 will be so formed as to allow the continuous spring to pass` therethrough, such as being provided with'an. opening 35. Thisvsingle applying spring.

when itv will prevent-the down- 'f li'llitlylgrea'ter. width. orl Atrates' the tapering.ofthe'wir :i 'm

ve.'. ifeaclied the Vupper much' siiiipler than.

'and the cup. is cheaper.to.rnianufactureand At; eg complicated 'entirely with theanuiilar ,grooveV 36. to thev quickly.' retracted by direct spring 'to all intents andv purposes acts in exactly the same way as the two springs shown in' Fig. 1, the upper portionQOa acting 'as the shifting or feeding. spring' and the lower portion 21* serving as-tlie pressure .-lhe springs 20and 2l' are preferably formed of wire which gradually-tapers, the heaviersection of-wire forming the. larger turns or basesl 'of the springs, and the lighter section forming the sniallerturns or apexesrof the springs. Fig. 9 illustrates this in a somewhat exaggerated form, as in actualI practice thetaper'in the wire from f.

the 'base to 'the apex is only-.very slight.. This provides a conical springvof uniform tension in' all of its turns, it being'lphvious -that; the smaller the tiirnthefligliterftheyyiie .p e.f`-"

can'beV to secure a given. pres'sui'eor.'

Fig. 9 shows 'this .principle applied v the feeding 0f..-'Shiftg 'SP'fI'Lg 20.. but ''tfisalso' applied. to the :pressureA spring,5212;- principle is also applied tothedoiihle'spriug ends 'of the 'gspri'ngi towaixl 'i iate contracted, portion',"'tlie amount.' gf. apen ing exaggeratedto makeit apparent .The V lubricaitor' described coiiipri same general principlesas :that .ofiii Pitt/ent. hefellbcfQle dentid., Ud'SN-es 'futsal maintain an approximately 'Yuiiifoijmf- :press sure 0n.y the. lubricant. inthe. @niet alli times', and irrespective of Whetherithecupjis v or nearly'eni'pty.f The mecliaiiism li' foigeifer in my;.iivi0r 'patent less.. liable to. (1eraagement- ".h Furthermore,

mechanism of vmy former; patent, whichv pas on the exterior, is replaced' hy' simple.v es

capement mechanism located Withinl the 'cup and therefore lesswlialile-.to injury., The groovdor splined condition ofthe threaded rod' or .shaft whichv was a necessary 'feature on my former patent entirely ,`o'li`iii'ated,.. .and in place of the duplicate crownfratcliet ratchet "or -escapemeiit one. tooth or palwl are'used, and simplergand more (effective means. are provided for lifting the piston and `-threaded rod.-f'-1'n.'the improved Y A: irraligenlent also A the conical spiralsprings are not attached. at'eitherengl,

hut merely. rest;l at either end' upon the. hear-1 A iug "menibers, thereby not only'eh'eapening the manufacture but making the devicesimf: I

- connected to thefcup and engaging'said threaded rod, Aa spring' interposed between the cup and the threaded'rod and arranged saidcup.- 2. 'In alubricator, the combination 0fathe piston thereon,-

' move Atheflat-ter longitudinally .and rotate' spring, and' a lnutonfsaidthreaded rod outv tol move the same longitudinally and there-A by rotate .the same in said nut, and a. nut engaging the threads on said rod outside of the same jin' said nut, esca'pement mechanism 'connecting thep'xston-and rod and arranged action lof the last named side lof said cup and` adaptedto Ycontact the 1 saine and limit the AVv cup,'a solid or shaft extending .through thetoptlereof and by `quickpitch threads,

motion ofsaid rod".v 3. In a. lubricator, the combination of a :interengaging the same a'pistonor plunger rotatably and y; longitudinally movable on saidrrod or-shaft,":1f-'feeding'spring arranged .to-.constantlyrexert ,endwise-force on said rod-onshaft, .a pressure f springbetweenthe T .piston Tanda'gpartvmoving:with the' rod 'or -shaftunde'rtheaction ofthe feeding spring,

escapementmechanism between 'said rod or,

shaft.-and.fthe ;piston -forcontrolling -th`e action off the'feedin'g v,spi-ingv` said :mechanism vcomprising an annular; toothed 'member nonsaid piston-and saidannula'rtoothedrotatablyfoonnectedlto':said shaft, and a ,singlqinterlocking tooth vor pawl-carried by adapted to `coperate with member:

4. vIn a"lub'ricator`,` the :combination of a cup,. a threaded or shaft extending through the `top 'thereof and interengaging ltheisameby quick pitchthre'adsfa piston or plunger. rotatbly and longitudinally movable-on saidbd or shaft, a feeding or shifting spring arranged to constantly exert sure Spring hetweenthe piston and 'apartmoving with th'erodA or shaft under the ace mech .between said rod'o'r shaft andv the vcompr'ising"anannular t' and ai]-1intercugagin'g toothVA -o'r 'pawL `said rod or shaft being 'also pro-` vided witltslowpitch threads, -and a nut thereon provided v with corresponding slow- "pitch'threadsl t In` a lubricator, the combinationoff-5a.'-v cup, a piston-or plunger rtherein, larodaotzzj sha. ft, a Y sprix` '1 x. ;linterposedbetween 'said-rod. .or shaft-and the` piston, a nut engaging said rod or shaft by quckpiteh threads and bet vsaid rod outside of the shaft, a spring interposedgbetween said rold-v tween the two springs and Y I opening through which th ing non-rotatably supported on the cup, a

4spring interposed betweenthe cup and said rod and serving to move the llatter longitudinally androtate the same in said nut, said rod or shaft also being provided with a set of slow pitch threads, Yand va nut engaging cup by corresponding slow pitch threads;

` 6. In a lubricator, the .combination of a cup`, al piston or plunger there-in, a rod 0r shaft, a spring interposed between said rod or shaft and the piston, a nut engaging said rod orA shaft by`quick pitch Ithreads andbeingv non-rotatablysupported on the cup,a spring.interposedibetween the cup and Said- 4rod and serving to move the lat'ter-long'itudinally and rotate' the same in said nut, said rod-or shaft alsobeingjprovided with-slow',v

pitch threads, Aanutcngagingl said' rod outsideof thecupby coigrcspondingslow pitch threads, and escaner-nent mechauism'controlling thesecond named spring.l

7. In a lubricator,` the combination ofi'al l cup, Aa piston or plunger thereimfa or and piston, a nut engaging the rodorshaftf.v and non-rotatablv supported on the cup,

said rod and nut being'provided'with interengaging quick pitch threadsga spring inter!V posed between the cupl and the threaded and acting to move the la'ttcrlongitudinallyi and rotate the same in saidnut, said pistqh being rotatably and end-wise movable re1av tive to saidrodyeseapement xnechanisx'n` be I' l `tween said' threaded rod and' piston= and comprising an annular toothed member securcd'to one of said parts and an escapemcnt tooth or member secured to'theother of said parts, said rod or'shaft being also provided with slow pitch threads, aiida nut engaging said ro'd outside of the cup by .c0-` operating slow pitclrthreads.

8v..Ina lubricator, the combination of a cup, a plunger, a pressure spring for shifting the plunger along the cup, and a spring' for maintaining the tension of the pressure spring constant, said springs together being of hour-glass form and formed ofasingle wire of decreasing-cross section frdm the larger end turnsof the springs to the smaller middle turns thereof.

9. In a. lubricator, the combination of a. cup, aplunger,' a spriliglhlnber for shifting the plunger alon'g t I 1"i a`i` i p, and another ided with an `i1 ecting nait .tof the spring passes.

. l0` In a lubricatotthe combination of a terposed bccup, a. plunger,'a threaded shaftjfa spring .member interposed 'betwcengthe shaft and plunger, a nut engaging ihe. shaft., @mi a Ih testimony whereof, I have hereunto 4set my hand.

GEORGE RUSSELL KENNEDY.

`Wtnesses O. A. ROEHLING, MARY E. CAHUON,

Spring nwmber for rotating one of said! parts, both of said spring members being coiled from n continuous wire, and. a bear 1 im!` member interposed between the twol springs and provided with An openingl through which the connecting part of the Spring pusse. l 

